The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-11-10
Story Telling.

In all ages and in all lands the art
of narrating a story by word of mouth
or by the ready pen has been practiced.
and few individuals among the rest
of mankind have been gifted with
this faculty, which they have exercised
in preparing food for the fancy of their
hearers or readers in fable, epic, or
the modern novel. These are akin to
the artist who differs from the mere
portrait painter. The last named can
produce a resemblance which may be
perfect in light and shade, and even in
expression; but though this may give
as pleasure ii does not stir in US the
admiration that we award to one who
can produce situation calling forth
our emotions. The faculty which can
produce this is much more rarely met
with.
A well told tale is as rare as per-
feet day. 1t is the result OF happy in-
tiuences. and, like well developed
man or woman, requires favorable cir
cumstances for its development. 1t
owes much OF its interest to the Ian
guage used in tellingit and the skill with
which it is illustrated. as in the PLAYS
of Shakespeare. The plots of many of
these plays are not original, but the
way in which the author has made,
from what were originally but phan-
toms, galleries of life-like figures, is a
striking proof of his power A similar
effect Is often produced by writers of
tales.
1t shows great merit in a story when
the incidents of it linger in the
memory. ''Silas Mariner" by George
Eliot, is remarkable instance of this
quality. Any one who has read this
tale must have noted the ease with
which each incident may be recalled,
even long time after it has been
read and this characteristic seems TO
result from its being free from super
fiuous matter, from the way in which
the main incidents are grouped, and
from the beauty and simplicity of the
tout ensemble.
Love and war, with the troubles re-
sulting therefrom, form the materials
of most of the ancient stories,
while the situations of the modern
novels are the results of complicated
difficulties incident to more advanced
state of civilization. Life abounds in
incidents for the modern tale-wrter.
There are many people who coniine
their generosity to what they consider
their own class, and who spend time
and money in deeds of charity, yet
think nothing of wounding the feel
ings of those little beneath them in
rank. They are kind after their own
fashion, but would sacrifice their dear
est friends rather than lose an inch of
their hard-won social station. Such
people are common both in real life
and in novels, and when the story of
their doings is well told it excites in
the reader much interest.
To read a good story has similar
effect to spending 4 few hours in
pleasant company; it cheers and re-
lieves the mind; the small troubles
that may have vexed lose their hold
upon us, and when we return to them
we are SO refreshed and invigorated by
the action of change that they weigh
but lightly upon us. Sometimes an
incident recalls to our memories some
of the pleasures and pains of that
brief season of early youth of which
We all like to prolong the remenl-
brance. Stories from other lands have
II great charm for young people and
children. There is for them the
novelty of learning about foreign GUS
toms and seeing that human nature is
alike in its deep experiences under
very different outward ways and man
ners.-Chansbers Journal